Going Digital with Enterprise Architecture

Transformation is the business buzzword these days. Everyone is focused on going digital.

Oh, you think the world is already digital because of what’s here already … mobile devices, apps, video streaming, wearable technology … and we’re on the edge of self-driving cars and drone deliveries. Adults in the second half of life remember the days before cell phones, VCRs, digital cameras and all of those handy technology devices we take for granted now.

So, where is corporate America in this wild technology ride? The leading companies are right there, setting the pace for the digital revolution, taking advantage of technology magic to grow their businesses, increase profits and contribute to the world’s economic engine.

But, who has the map for going digital? This is a brand new road to travel, with few signposts along the way. Right now, companies can choose many different ways to make the journey to digital business.

Since there is no single map to follow, anyone can start the journey anywhere and in any manner. The challenge becomes knowing the right place for your company to begin and what path to follow. Can you digitalize part of the business, but not all? Every day, company execs ask questions like these:

Is it enough that my customers can order products online?

If we offer a mobile app, do we have a digital business?

We connect with customers through social media; what else should we do?

Digitalizing just a portion of your business isn’t enough today. For example, if someone gave you a set of handlebars and two wheels, would you be a bicycle?

Not even close. But some companies look at digital transformation in this way. Digitalize here, digitalize there, gather up the pieces and hope it translates into enough innovation to fuel business growth.

However, some organizations are headed in the right direction and others have reached their destination of a digital business. And, it turns out that there are map makers to help companies go digital. They are the heads of strategy, directors of business transformation, enterprise architects and others with a stake in change management and business process management.

Next week, March 21-24, these digital experts will gather at the Business Transformation & Operational Excellence World Summit (BTOES) in Orlando to focus on strategies for transforming businesses end-to-end, function-to-function, and process-by-process to gain competitive advantage in a digital world. Business leaders will hear how to rethink their go-to-market strategy, improve sales and product development, and reshape continuous improvement to prepare for the future.

One of the key ways these experts are succeeding in digital transformation is by leveraging enterprise architecture as the means to accelerate innovation and help manage change. You could be developing transformation scenarios right now, identifying the most appropriate one to support your company’s digital strategy. You could be reconciling application and technology portfolios to free up resources to invest in new digital technologies. You could architect new business processes to improve your customers’ journey as they engage with your organization. Your strategy and enterprise architecture team can do amazing things with the right knowledge, tools and support.

It promises to be a great event, hearing from architects and strategists about the challenges that are a priority for them and how they’re approaching them. If you’re going to be there, come find us - MEGA will be at booth #A6.

So, where is corporate America in this wild technology ride? The leading companies are right there, setting the pace for the digital revolution, taking advantage of technology magic to grow their businesses, increase profits and contribute to the world’s economic engine.

But, who has the map for going digital? This is a brand new road to travel, with few signposts along the way. Right now, companies can choose many different ways to make the journey to digital business.

Since there is no single map to follow, anyone can start the journey anywhere and in any manner. The challenge becomes knowing the right place for your company to begin and what path to follow. Can you digitalize part of the business, but not all? Every day, company execs ask questions like these:

Is it enough that my customers can order products online?

If we offer a mobile app, do we have a digital business?

We connect with customers through social media; what else should we do?

Digitalizing just a portion of your business isn’t enough today. For example, if someone gave you a set of handlebars and two wheels, would you be a bicycle?

Not even close. But some companies look at digital transformation in this way. Digitalize here, digitalize there, gather up the pieces and hope it translates into enough innovation to fuel business growth.

However, some organizations are headed in the right direction and others have reached their destination of a digital business. And, it turns out that there are map makers to help companies go digital. They are the heads of strategy, directors of business transformation, enterprise architects and others with a stake in change management and business process management.

Next week, March 21-24, these digital experts will gather at the Business Transformation & Operational Excellence World Summit (BTOES) in Orlando to focus on strategies for transforming businesses end-to-end, function-to-function, and process-by-process to gain competitive advantage in a digital world. Business leaders will hear how to rethink their go-to-market strategy, improve sales and product development, and reshape continuous improvement to prepare for the future.

One of the key ways these experts are succeeding in digital transformation is by leveraging enterprise architecture as the means to accelerate innovation and help manage change. You could be developing transformation scenarios right now, identifying the most appropriate one to support your company’s digital strategy. You could be reconciling application and technology portfolios to free up resources to invest in new digital technologies. You could architect new business processes to improve your customers’ journey as they engage with your organization. Your strategy and enterprise architecture team can do amazing things with the right knowledge, tools and support.

It promises to be a great event, hearing from architects and strategists about the challenges that are a priority for them and how they’re approaching them. If you’re going to be there, come find us - MEGA will be at booth #A6.